Sauber hands Gustav Malja test opportunity in August

Formula 2 driver Gustav Malja will get his first taste of Formula 1 later this year.

The 21-year-old Swedish driver has been signed up by Sauber to take part in the next in-season test. It will be held at the Hungaroring in the week after the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"The prospect of driving a Formula 1 car is exceptionally thrilling," he said on Monday. "A childhood dream come true.

"I can’t wait to experience that sensation, I’m sure it will be a very surreal moment.

"I will do everything in my power to make the most of the test day and learn as much as I possibly can," he added. "Wholehearted thanks to the Sauber F1 Team for giving me this fantastic opportunity.

Sauber has the tools to race in the mid-field - Kaltenborn

Malja is currently competing in Formula 2 with Racing Engineering. He picked up his first podium finish of the year at Moncao on Saturday. It was his fourth consecutive finish in the points, putting him into ninth place in the drivers championship.

The previous year, Malja had enjoyed a strong finish to his first season in the GP2 Series - the former name for Formula 2.

"We have followed him in previous years, especially last year in the GP2 Series where he consistently made progress," noted Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn.

"Driving a Formula 1 car for the first time is always a special moment for race drivers – and so it is for Gustav," Kaltenborn predicted.

"It will be a great opportunity for Gustav to make another step in his racing career and to fulfil his childhood dream."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.